Aubstopper

Many congrats!!!

NELC at UofC does not interview (unless, I believe, there are some clarifying questions needing answering). They've already made their decisions according to my friends in the department and one of my LORs who is on the adcom.

Are you applying to anthropology or NELC programs? I am only familiar with the NELC program at UofC, if that is where you applied.

Apologies...I was under the impression that you were going there to study not just visit. I kinda just ignored the parts of the thread that looked potentially volatile. I was warning you because when I lived and studied there, my student visa was taped right into my passport, which limited my travel.

Just so you know, you cannot go into Saudi Arabia with an Israeli visa on your passport (same goes for Syria, Lebanon, many of the gulf countries as well as some African countries); i'd suggest getting separate visa papers for Israel to stamp so you can travel without restrictions. Tel Aviv University is not a bad school in the least bit and Israeli scholars, I think, are among the most underappreciated scholars (due to some US universities having academic/cultural boycotts), though I've noticed many who do half time at a US university and half time at an Israeli university. Given my specific area of study (modern Jewish thought), going to a PhD program in Israel is not a completely bad idea---however, they just don't have the funding that American schools tend to have....and the political extremes I was forced to choose between made me very uncomfortable. All I'm saying is that some people can separate their politics from their work, some can't, and to some, their politics are their work. If you feel uncomfortable being able to freely express your views in certain places in academia, look to where you'd be happy and accepted. When you're out there, reach out to academics in your area of interest and see what they say regarding where you should go/what direction you should take your research (ie polysci, history, nelc, etc).

@Annalista I'd upvote you, but this site seems to have a cap on how positive we can be each day

@grad_wannabe: To be completely honest (and this is slightly embarrassing), I've been so wrapped up in work and obsessing over apps that I didn't realize there was a blizzard until like 3 days later when I went to the store and was surprised by all the snow. Literally have been living like a cartoon ostrich with its head in the sand. My boss actually offered to get me a recommendation letter from the national president of the AFL-CIO (Trumka), which is super nice of him, but both irrelevant to my field of interest (though I do a little bit of labor history) and a non-academic reference. Also, only met the guy irl once. It's so nice that they're being so supportive! It would be such an added stress if we had to hide this whole process from our jobs in addition to the anxiety of waiting, waiting, waiting... (sorry, for some reason my laptop/tablet hybrid doesn't let me quote people...and my main computer just burned out...just like me!)

Congrats, Annalista! Chicago is awesome! Who did you apply to work with over there?

Having spent most of my 3+ years off working in academic administration (ironically given my transcript situation, I've worked as an assistant registrar in two Chicago-area universities), I know exactly what is and isn't possible and the general timeframe for these sorts of things. Hebrew U was willing to do a paper transcript but I either had to do regular shipping (which takes 30 days!) or 3-day rush from the Middle East costing $80. Given that the application was around that price and that EVERY other university I applied to just did unofficial uploads, it just seemed crazy to me...especially since it was encouraged that we send our transcripts AFTER applying meaning everything was a rush transcript. I went to two community colleges (one where I took only one class), undergrad, study abroad, and grad school (5 transcripts to wrangle). I know that at least in regards to my application to Davis, that it hasn't been evaluated yet (as of the previous Monday). The admin said that nomination for a particular fellowship had a deadline of the 4th of Feb, so it was preferable to get everything in before then (though they stated that your application could possibly still be evaluated even when incomplete). My current job (i work in politics from home, in my pjs), luckily, has been extremely supportive of my applying to grad schools (even allowing me to go PT for 3 weeks), but they are going about this assuming I'm going to be leaving the position this summer. It is likely that I could end up without any acceptances AND no job. I'm confident in my applications but damn, some people's backgrounds are crazy intimidating!

Mayo baths don't sound that bad (probably better for you than eating it), but by your wording it sounds like you were bathing someone else in mayo?!

Nice @Hungryfarmer! So far in this admissions cycle, I got through Assassin's Creed II, III, Black Flag, Freedom Cry, Rogue, as well as Valiant Hearts, Red Dead Redemption, and playing Skyrim until I got the damn platinum trophy. Starting AC: Brotherhood today. My prize to myself for getting into a PhD program (or probably even if I don't) will be a PS4. Already bought myself a new computer in anticipation. Writing it all down does make my gaming seem excessive. Yikes. Maybe I should focus on getting outside and making friends or something? (nah.)

I've been lurking this thread for a month now and I thought I'd introduce myself. You guys are definitely the most positive and supportive that I've seen on this board--and your stories are heart-warming! My interests can be construed into history though I'm more interested in the philosophy of history, intellectual history, and some bits of social thought. My area is essentially "modern Jewish thought." I only applied to one straight-up history program at UC Davis (because the chair of the department and I have an excellent rapport/exactly the same interests), but my application hasn't been evaluated yet because of transcript delays (rawwwwrRRRRRR). I went back and forth with admins at Davis and Hebrew U (Jerusalem) for two weeks regarding Hebrew U's new policy to only do digital transcripts and Davis' unwillingness to accept an e-transcript. Finally, they've decided to accept it (after explaining my situation to my POI who lectured the admin). Now, they're saying they haven't received my community college transcripts. ARGHgfd;sgdfg Excluding that, I've had some really great feedback from all my POIs in the inquiry stage (and interviewed with all unofficially), but haven't heard anything definite yet and it's driving me craaaazy.

Without getting into an argument, based upon your responses and interests (which as of now seem quite broad and un-centered), I'd say take the political science route since you seem to have a strong political slant to your work. Having a slant is fine, but it might be more acceptable in the polysci realm than in history or a NELC program. I did both my undergraduate and graduate work in Modern Middle Eastern Studies and lived/traveled to various parts of the Middle East as well. I think that it's a good start studying abroad in Israel and gaining Arabic language proficiency there instead of the various Arabic nations you mentioned, given that (at least from my experience) many of the profs through Rothberg share similar views as you. If you're serious about getting trained in Arabic it's important that you learn in a place where the dialect is relevant to your area of study. So, if you're interested in studying Israel-Palestine, gaining proficiency in a Levantine dialect would be most appropriate. Moroccan Arabic, while they teach and speak modern standard beautifully, their dialect is rarely understood by anyone outside of the area. Egyptian dialect is not a bad option either.

I would like to add myself to the list of being on the edge of sanity/having heightened neuroses. They really should provide free mental health counseling for PhD applicants! I am currently working as a contractor (in politics at the national level) and I work almost exclusively from home on a schedule I make myself. Though the position was ideal during the application process (they are very supportive---even allowed me to go down to part time for 3 weeks to work on my apps), the waiting period has been hell. Anxiety is through the roof and as others have said, I am finding it difficult to not obsess over every detail and to just get my work done. I struggle to get through daily tasks and I thanks to my borderline insanity, I now have to schedule myself to include constant email refreshing. It's ridiculous because most of the programs I applied to don't notify until earliest next week and I'm like sitting in front of some sort of screen (smart phone, tablet, computer, etc) on a WEEKEND refreshing the damn thing. I worked so hard and got such positive feedback and support from everyone, though I'm just so afraid of disappointing those I look up to (my LoRs writers, friends, and mainly my mother, who is currently a tenured professor in a STEM field). I go back and forth every day re: my confidence on this process. EDIT: btw, I find it sort of hilarious how many closet pokemon people just came out in this thread. I have been trying to offset anxiety by playing video games as well, but with various Assassin's Creed games I never got around to playing.

MA/MST decisions are not necessarily made by the same committee. At some of the schools where you applied, results coming from GSAS vs Divinity Schools would have different timelines as they're completely different departments. But to ease your anxiety, when I applied to MA programs, I started hearing back in early March. PhD stuff, seems to me, comes in much earlier (as the apps are due earlier as well).

The best way to get information is to just straight up ask the university programs you're wanting to apply to. No use trudging around with second-hand info when you can get it directly from the schools. Just Google your interests + PhD and see who pops up. Something else is that once you get to working on your graduate thesis, you'll have a much better idea of the field and who is doing what where. Half of the profs I contacted in the inquiry stage were taken directly from the bibliography of my thesis. The only program I'm applying to that might be of interest to you would be Princeton's Religious Studies program (through the graduate school not PTS) in "Religion, Ethics, and Politics." It seems like it covers all aspects of your current areas of interest.

Ratings/prestige are important to a point and all those programs are well-known and prestigious. I think that you should go wherever will give you the best training in your subject of interest---whomever is the strongest in ethics and where there are faculty/resources that can best inform your interests. Focus on getting those strong letters of recommendation from those in your field and network! A lot of the PhD process is not quantitative: someone can have the right grades, the right GRE, and go to the right schools and not get in anywhere. It's about your proposed research; and given your interests, does the PhD program you're potentially applying to have the faculty to advise you and if so, do they find your research interesting/promising? Start thinking like that and I think you'll be fine wherever you go.

I was accepted in '11 for the 2011-2012 season (and declined, to work) and my experience was that Columbia's program (especially in regards to modern Jewish Studies) is in a bit of a flux. It's nice to know that they're rebuilding, because the opportunities available there (taking classes at JTS and Barnard) are incredible.

It really depends on the school. I was lauded by several POIs for taking time off between my MA and applying to PhDs to work and pay down my loans. I've been almost 4 years out of academia and have been saving up for applications over the past year. Not everyone has the opportunity, financial or otherwise, to go directly from one degree to the next with no gaps-- especially since we're in the Humanities.

Something I did was hang out where the profs hung out for lunch. I ate there every day for almost my entire two years. They got to know me better (which is important because MA students tend to not have as much advising or interaction with profs compared to phds) and I think, in the end, it helped me network without seeming desperate or awkward. As Ian said, self-confidence is also key. Not only in regards to networking but in general. You need to have confidence re: your research/ideas because as a PhD, they're going to be torn apart, stepped on, and constantly revised.

Were you the American Religious History "Interview" on the results page? I haven't heard anything yet from Yale (i'm Judaic Studies subfield), but I also spoke to half the department on the phone in Nov/Dec so I don't even know if they would request an additional interview, if interested (they told me just to write in my SOP that I spoke to them on the phone). Trends-wise, according to the results page, they seem to be all over the place with interviews and acceptances. Btw, they told me that they don't do acceptances by subfield anymore because they found that they were excluding some more-qualified candidates. They do it by professor nomination then by rankings. Good luck! Yale is my first choice.

I don't know; I feel like there is a lack of motivation, drive, and focus in undergraduates in general. My mother is a tenured professor at a California school (and has adjuncted at others) and she has noticed an upward trend in students feeling like they should get good grades without actually putting in any work. Rather than it being specific to UCSB, it might just be a byproduct of the expectation these days that EVERYONE should go to college (even if they don't want to or particularly need to) and a generational expectation (millennial?) that things should just be given without being earned because they show up. Something can also be said for elitism in universities in general. I noticed this at UCLA when I was there. I just don't think that unmotivated undergrads are a specific trait of UCSB (as someone who grew up just slightly south of there).

I had professors in the past who as personal policy never handed out A's, and I think I've done all right so far. My graduate transcript from UofC has B-'s (all the other grades are A's with a B+ here and there) from intermediate Persian language courses (I received all A's in my courses at UCLA). The professor never gave out A's and even PhD students and hopeful students wanting PhDs in Iranian/Persian Studies were getting grades around mine. It was a huge issue at the time.. Regardless, the outcome of this was that of the 6 of us who chose to remain in his course till the end, 3 are PhD students at the University of Chicago (one in History and 2 in NELC, two focusing in Iranian Studies), one student at Yale (in Iranian History), a guy who dropped out of the program all together, and then yours truly. Three of these students (who were in terminal MA programs at the time) ended up getting into top programs (Yale, UofC, Toronto, Cornell, etc) despite their transcript being littered with B's and C's in their field of interest. When I applied for PhD programs a few years back halfheartedly, I was accepted into Columbia's Religion program. So it is possible. If you're overly concerned, such as I was, and don't feel like addressing something like this in your SOP, then I'd suggest one of two things: 1. Take a course in relatively the same area, do better in that course, and get a recommendation from a professor who can speak to your strengths in that area. 2. Have one of your recs explain the situation and attest to your strengths in that area. Two of my recs did the latter this cycle without me asking because they knew the big hoopla it caused (phds being put on academic probation, the dean getting involved, etc). .

That's good to know. I actually had spoken a few years back with the History chair who at the time had told me that they only offer full aid to the top person in each subfield, and then two others per subfield that are unfunded for the first year (with the option for TAships). I didn't even think of applying this year because the California State Schools in general seemed to be having financial issues (my mother is a professor at CSU Pomona and Western). Happy that my alma mater is dishing out more money to its acceptees. It will hopefully attract scholars who would have taken up a better financial offer elsewhere (i.e. U$C).

Additionally, it seems that people over-zealously post interviews on the results page even when they have "informal interviews" (ie just chatting with a POI or grad director), which in my opinion, don't really count. I had several of those during the inquiry stage. How sad that people feel the need to troll others who are clearly super emotionally-exposed balls of anxiety (this is me atm, at least).